Each Saturday morning, all year long, I lead a free birdwalk from our store. We meet here at 8:00, carpool to a local park of seasonal interest, and bird for about 2 hours. We return to a fresh pot of hot (organic, shade-grown, fair-trade) coffee and then enjoy feeder birds out the window. The goal of these walks is not to find rarities per se (although I am always looking!) but to enjoy more common birds, study identification challenges, explore different habitats, etc. They cater to the beginning to intermediate birder, but a number of very good birders often join us. Each Saturday, I summarize our observations and adventures on the Bird News section of our website. But, one of today’s sightings is worth mentioning here as well!

THE GOAL HAS BEEN REACHED!
For this morning’s birdwalk, we elected to head to Portland’s Eastern Promenade – where we hoped to find the multi-use trail plowed (to avoid slogging through a foot of snow in the woods) – and it was, conviently, recently cleared for us.

Assuming that East End Beach would be filled with cars from last night’s parking ban – it was – we parked over by the entrance to the sewage treatment plant. And, right there in the corner, just as we got out of the cars, amongst a group of about 20 Mallards, there it was: EASTERN PROMENADE BIRD #150!!

A lone drake American Wigeon, a stunning, smart-looking, classy duck was casually swimming within the group of Mallards. Out of its preferred freshwater marsh habitat (there are regular, although relatively uncommon migrants in Maine in places like Scarborough Marsh) this handsome fellow looked as out of place (on open salt water) as it probably felt!

While there were a few relatively common species that have so far eluded me for the Promenade List (especially Red-necked Grebe and White-winged Scoter, along with a few passerines that I have missed as migrants), I did not think American Wigeon would have been the milestone bird.

Now, with my goal (of 150 species in a particular “patch) reached for the Eastern Promenade, I will focus a bit more attention on completing my other Portland Patch List – Dragon Field – which currently stands at 140 species. This is going to be a tough one, as the lack of a significant body of water limits my chances of waterfowl, shorebirds, etc, and there are no real common species left for me to add there. I’ll keep you updated!